Published 22 April 2024 at 15.42
Cultural news. During a panel discussion on “offensive” language in older literature, one of the debaters, Barakat Ghebrehawariat, chose to roar and leave the room in anger. The reason was that the word “negro” was used.
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The event took place at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern this weekend during Stockholm's culture night, Expressen reports. The conversation was led by the playwright Stina Oscarson.
Among other things, “Tintin in the Congo” and other older culture with “racist” words and images were discussed.
Two questioners used the word “negro” – and then the political scientist and debater Barakat Ghebrehawariat had enough. He states that he first demanded that the audience not use the word, and when it was used again, he left the stage.
– I did everything I could. I don't think it's my responsibility. I am invited to talk about racism and then exposed to racism. It's not the first time it's happened and it's always me who needs to speak up, says Barakat Ghebrehawariat to Expressen.
One of those who used the word negro himself has a Sudanese father and used the word in the context “I remember when I was little and being teased because I was negro”. He then got a planing from Barakat Ghebrehawariat.
Stina Oscarson does not see that she did anything wrong as a moderator.
– I tried to let the man who asked the question explain himself. Barakat was very reprimanding of this man and did not allow him to speak. I wanted to give the man a chance to tell why he used the n-word because I thought it required an explanation and that the only right thing in that situation was to let him explain himself, she tells Dagens ETC.
Nor does the journalist Ola Wong, who participated in the panel, believe that there is anything to apologize for. He tells Expressen that he thinks it's strange that you can't deal with the word “negro” if you “get into a debate about old cultural debates that deal with that particular word”.
Barakat Ghebrehawariat, however, has received an official apology from Kulturhuset.